MARIO BALOTELLI may have worn the T-shirt with the phrase "Why always me?" but that is exactly what Lingfield manager Dixie Dean was saying after his side fell foul of another controversial refereeing decision on Tuesday night.
Lingfield's unbeaten start to the new Sussex County League Division One season came to an end when they lost out 1-0 at home against Hassocks.
But it was the decision by replacement referee Frank Meilack to award the visitors a penalty that incensed Dean, with Phil Gault netting the winner from the spot after Jay Kamala was deemed to have fouled Hassocks striker Phil Johnson.
The decision infuriated Lingfield's players and manager, particularly as Meilack, who replaced the injured referee Theo Parfitt, had turned down a big shout from the hosts in the first half when Harry Sintim went down in the box.
Lingfield pushed forward in search of an equaliser and came agonisingly close when Daryl Coleman's thunderous strike from outside the box cannoned back off the crossbar.
Coleman also hit the post in the latter stages and Craig Pitterson fluffed the rebound, but Hassocks held on for the victory to continue their unbeaten start to the league campaign and in doing so, end Lingfield's, much to the frustration of Dean, who said: "Why does this keep happening to me?
"We absolutely dominated the game and we weren't given what is probably the most clear-cut penalty you will ever see.
"Then he goes and gives them a penalty that is never a penalty; Jay won the ball and it was three yards outside the box.
"It is absolutely shocking and they say these things even out over the course of the season. Well, if that is the case there is a lot of evening out to happen."
There was better news, however, on Saturday for Lingfield as they progressed to the first round proper of the FA Vase.
Pitterson and Daryl Coleman scored the goals to seal a 2-0 win against Worthing United, setting up a first round proper tie away at Erith Town.
